Improvement in hand-hole stoppers for steam-boilers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

DANIEL sULLIvAN, oE BANcon, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND-HOLE STOPPERS FOR STEAM-BOILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,704, dated February 17,l 1874; application led December 26, 1873.

tion thereof, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon7 which forni a part of this specication, in which- Figure l shows a section of the device as applied to a boiler; Fig. 2, a front view of my stopper.

Same letters show like parts.

The object of my device is to produce a sirnple and economical device for stopping the hand-holes in steam-boilers.

My stopper is intended to apply to round holes, which can be much more easily and cheaply `cut than the oval holes generally employed. Moreover, it does away with the red lead and similar substances commonly used for rendering the joint tight, and packs upon the outside of the boiler entirely, instead ot on the inside, as common, enabling the iron to be kept clean and smooth with greater ease, and securing a more perfect joint.

My invent-ion will be understood by reference to the drawin At a is shown a portion ot' the boiler, having the hand-hole b therein. rlhis is round, and slightly larger in diameter than the ange d on the stopper. The stopper consists of a plate, c, having annular anges d c thereon, and a screw-bolt, f, projecting' from its center.

This plate c is oval or elliptical in form, itsl width, in its narrowest part, being slightly less than the diameter ot the hand-hole, so as to permit its entrance by slanting it, and inserting one of its longer ends. An annular rim ot flange d, nearly the full size of the hole b, and nearly or quite as thick as the iron of the boiler, is formed upon the outside of the plate c, and lls the hand-hole, while the oval portions or lips g of the plate or stopper press against the inside of the boiler, and prevent its being drawn out. A second iange or rim, c, may also be advantageously employed, serving as a guide to the cup h, and assisting in packing the joint. Over the bolt f is placed a cup, k, annular in form, its sides preferably having openings therein for convenience in holding the stopper by the bolt when it is to be removed from the hole. Around the lower portion of this cup is an annular groove, i, in which a rubber ring, j, is secured, this ring being of sufficient size to cover the edges of the hand-hole. (Sec dotted lines, Fig. 2.) The boltf projects through the upper portion of the cup lz., and the plate or stopper c and the cup h may bot-h be forced tightly against the boiler by scre\`ving up a nut, 7c, ou the end of this bolt.

When. the ilange c is employed, the ring j is jammed closely against the surface of theboiler f around the hole-the surface of the flange d, the periphery of the ange e, and the inner surfaces of the groove 'L' in the cup c, `thus packing in four directions, and making an absolutely tight joint.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The plate or stopper e, sufficiently7 narrow for insertion in the round hand-hole l), and provided with lips g g, annular flange d, and screw-boltf, either with or without the annulai` ange e, in combination with the cup 71 annular packing-ring j, and nut 7:, substantially as set forth and shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day ot December, 1ST-3.

DANIEL SULLIVAN. lVituesses z WM. FRANKLIN SEAvEY, J. D. WARREN. 

